At Faith Lutheran School of Redmond, our experienced staff is trained on the best school practices, and student performance continues to improve as a result.Faith Lutheran School offers the best personal and educational growth opportunity for your child.Join our caring Christian environment and see how small class sizes, individualized instruction, and high accountability for students and staff make a positive impact on your child’s early educational experiences.

This class is designed for children that are 2 years old, turning 3 years old.The goal of this class is to show each child they are loved, special, and important. The classroom teachers provide various materials and activities which facilitate multi-sensory experiences and foster a carrying environment willed with unconditional love and acceptance. This class uses a thematic curriculum that incorporates learning experiences for physical, social, emotional, creative, and cognitive growth, developmentally appropriate and based on Washington State’s Early Learning Guidelines. We offer half or full day classes M-W or M-F from 9 to 12 pm or 9 to 3:15 pm.

2.5 to 4 years of age

This class is designed for children 2.5 years of age and turning 4 years old by the end of the year. The goals for this class is to have a safe, secure, stimulating environment in which children will flourish and develop self-awareness, empathy, and engage in developmentally appropriate activities. The teachers use Zoo Phonics language arts curriculum, along with a thematic curriculum that is linked with the developmental Early Learning Guidelines developed by Washington State. The teachers provide a place where all children are supported by unconditional love and encouragement. We offer half or full day classes M-R or M-F from 9 to 1 pm or 9 to 3:15 pm.

This class is designed for multi-age grouping of children 3 to 4 years old. The teachers in a multi-age class are fully committed to meeting the individual needs of each student and value differences and individualized curriculum accordingly. Having a range of abilities, interests, and temperaments within a classroom facilitates children’s natural, uneven development. This classroom allows for students to plan together, help each other out, discover ways to settle conflicts together and become critical thinkers, decision makers, and problem solvers. The goal of this classroom is to guide children in social, emotional, physical, intellectual and spiritual growth using Zoo Phonics language arts curriculum, along with a thematic curriculum that is linked with the developmental Early Learning Guidelines developed by Washington State. The teachers promote a positive sense of self and others and keep the love of learning nurtured in every child. We offer half or full day classes M-R or M-F from 9 to 1 pm or 9 to 3:15 pm.

This class is designed for children that are 4 years old and will be going to Kindergarten the following year. The teachers are committed to prepare children for lifelong learning and kindergarten readiness by providing challenging and interesting, developmentally appropriate activities. The classroom environment encourages each child’s creativity and imagination. The Pre-Kindergarten class will implement the Washington Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills (WaKIDs), a new program designed in partnership by the Department of Early Learning and the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, which will help ensure that children at our school will get a great start in Kindergarten. The Pre-Kindergarten curriculum is aligned with the teaching strategies and the kindergarten entry assessment for Washington State. This class uses a thematic curriculum, Zoo Phonics language arts program, 4-Group Math curriculum, Second Step social/emotional curriculum. We offer half or full day classes M-F from 9 to 1 pm or 9 to 3:15 pm.

This class is designed for students that are eligible for kindergarten enrollment, but have decided to enroll in this class for another year to develop all areas of the whole child; socially, emotionally, cognitively, and/or physically. This class is also designed for students that may have just missed the kindergarten enrollment date or their birthday is near this time. The teachers in this class promote self-respect, respect of others, and provide a nurturing environment that promotes independence. The teachers use a kindergarten curriculum that is implemented at a pace where all children in the class can grow in their strengths and interests. We offer half or full day classes M-F from 9 to 1 pm or 9 to 3:15 pm.

At Faith Lutheran School we believe in the importance of helping students to build a strong foundation in mathematics. Our elementary classes have adopted Saxon Math.

Using Saxon Math curriculum, students work toward mastery in three ways: by reviewing, maintaining and building upon previously learned skills; through direct, explicit instruction of new content, mathematical thinking and vocabulary; and by applying, reinforcing and demonstrating cumulative learning.

Our goal is to provide individualized instruction to each student that attends our school. During Math time we also use math center activities which are determined based on students’ needs. Centers provide opportunity for practice, enrichment, and remediation if needed.

Music is life and it is my sincere passion and calling to pass this on to our students here at Faith Lutheran School of Redmond.We learn many songs of faith, listen to and learn about famous compositions, varying styles of music, and discuss the composers and musicians lives.I utilize Solfege Hand Signs for singing instruction and the Kodaly method for incorporating singing and movement.I am trained in and predominantly employ the Orff-Schulwerk approach to music education, as summarized below. Mrs. Cecelia B. Leavitt, Music Teacher

The Orff-Schulwerk Approach to Music Education “Tell me, I forget.Show me, I remember.Involve me, I understand.”Carl Orff, composer, music education innovator

The Orff-Schulwerk Method is the national standard for elementary music education.This approach engageschildren’s minds and bodies, based on things they naturally like to do: singing, chanting rhymes and poems, clapping, dancing, action and keeping a beat on anything that is at hand.These instincts are directed into learning aboutmusic on a level that they can easily comprehend: firs by hearing and making music, and then reading and writing it later.This is the same way we all learned our language.Improvisation, composition and a child’s natural sense of play are encouraged as lessons spark creativity and higher-level thinking skills.

This approach to music education was developed by Carol Orff, a German composer, conductor and educator whose most famous composition is the oratorio “Carmina Burana”. The title “Schulwerk” is an indication of the educational process taking place: Schulwerk is the German work for schooling (in music) through working, that is, through being active and creative.Orff Schulwerk is a completely experiential method of introducing and teaching children of all ages about music.

Folk music and music composed by the children themselves comprise a large part of their repertoire.The special Orff melody instruments include wooden xylophones (soprano, alto, bass), metallophones (soprano, alto, bass) and glockenspiels (soprano and alto).They offer exceptional sound immediately.Castanets, bells, maracas, triangles, instruments used in the Orff classroom.Played together as in a small orchestra, their use helps children become sensitive listeners and considerate participants.

With Orff-Schulwerk, improvisation and composition start students on a lifetime of knowledge and enjoyment through personal musical experiences.Learning is meaningful only if it brings satisfaction to the learner, andsatisfaction arises from the ability to use acquired knowledge for the purpose of creating.And what a beautiful gift to give to our children!!

Each month during Chapel, the children learn about a Fruit of God's Spirit. The Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23.

As a result of my personal experiences and world travels, I have thoroughly enjoyed developing this course to celebrate rich cultural traditions from around the world with the students at Faith.Our focus in Countries & Cultures is to learn about the world outside of the United States. We learn how to read maps, the importance of country flags and the geography of countries from around the world. We learn about a typical day in the life of a student from countries such as Mexico, England, France, India, China, and Japan. Our studies include learning about regional cuisine, art, phrases in the language of each country, and the similarities and differences between the USA and each country we study.Before we move on to a new country we have a regional celebration, complete with music and dance, an art project students in that country might make at school and we prepare and sample food from the country we have been studying. Together we enjoy celebrating our world!

Physical Education is important at Faith and we provide a wide variety of activities for the students of all ages such as running club, Karate, rock wall climbing, movement classes, yoga, soccer, basketball and Jump Rope for the Heart (sponsored by the American Heart Association).